Improvement in voltaic pessaries



J. J. LOONEY. Volta ic-Pessary.

No. 216,281. Patented J'une10,'1879.

- 172 vamar.

N. PETERS. PNOTGUTHOGRAPHER, wAsmNGTbn. 0 CV UNITED STATES PATENTOEEIoE.

JOHN JAY LOONEY, OF UTIOA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN VOLTAIG PESSARIES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 216,281, dated June 10,1879; application filed August 9, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN JAY LooNEY, of Utica, in the county of Venangoand State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement inPessaries, which improvement is fully described in the followingspecification and drawings, in which ]atter Figure 1 is a verticalcentral section of one of my improved pessaries. Fig. 2 is a top view ofthe same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a voltaic battery withwhich the said pessary is provided. I

The object of my invention is to support and invigorate the uterus ofthe female human body, so as to cause it to resume its natural positionwhen, by reason of disease, it has a tendency to protrude into thevagina.

The nature of my invention consists of a vessel of suitable constructionand material, which contains a voltaic or plate battery with flathorizontal poles, the former serving to support the battery in thevagina, and the latter, by being in direct contact with the uterus,serving to strengthen the suffering parts by a galvanic current.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents a hollow spheroid ofindia-rubber and of suitable size. It has a small opening, a, at itslower end, and a larger one, a, at the top. Into the opening a a vessel,B, of suitable shape is inserted. An outer rim or flange, 1), around theopen top of the vessel B serves, by resting upon the upper edge of thevessel A, to prevent the vessel B from slipping into the vessel A. Thevessel B has a small bottom opening, I), for the purpose of drawing offany moisture in the vessel during the operation of the pessary.

A galvanic battery, 0, is inserted into the vessel B. 'It consists of anumber of upright plates, 0 0 arranged in pairs of one positive plate,0, and one negative plate, 0 which pairs of plates are covered with yarnor other suitable material, 0, for the purpose of isolation.

' The two extreme plates of the'battery, c c, of

opposite galvanic properties, are extended above the upper surface ofthe battery, as plainly seen in Fig. 3, and bent over horizontally, soas to terminate at a short distance from each other. These horizontalportions 0 V c of the pole-plates c c are on a level with the rim 1), orslightly above it, and serve as the support of the uterus during theoperation of my device.

Operation: The vessel A is provided in the manner described with theparts B O, and inserted into the upper part of the vagina, where itremains suspended by propping itself against the walls of the vagina.The uterus is thus supported upon the poles c c of the battery 0, whichbecomes active as soon as the coverings c are saturated with the naturalsecretions of the uterus. A galvanic current is now created, whichcirculates through the uterus, and thus gradually strengthens the sameand restores it to its normal condition. The secretions of the uterus,which pass over the battery after its saturation, find their way outthrough the openings b a of the apparatus.

My improved battery may be inserted into 7 pessaries of any constructiondifierent from that described, and such pessaries may be made of anysuitable material which does not interfere with the operation of thebattery.

I am aware that portable batteries are applied to the human body forhygienic purposes; but they are worn around the body, generally at thewaist, and special conductors are used to connect the battery with thesuffering parts. "These batteries are an inconven ence to the wearer,liable to derangement, and have to be frequently artificially moistenedwhen the perspiration of the body is not sufficient to keep them inoperation.

By applying the poles of my improved battery directly to the sufferingparts I avoid the use of intermediate conductors, and I am enabled touse a smaller battery than otherwise.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of a galvanic battery having pole-extensions c c and apessary inclosing and supporting the same, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

JOHN JAY LOONEY.

Witnesses:

P. DUFFIELD, N. G. DUNN.

